Kiera Jefferson
Indonesia has long struggled with air pollution, which has been linked to a range of health issues, including respiratory infections, asthma, and cardiovascular disease. The country's air quality index (AQI) regularly records unhealthy levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and ground-level ozone (O3). The primary cause of this pollution is forest fires, which release massive amounts of greenhouse gases, with other sources including transportation, energy production, and industry. The Indonesian government faces legal challenges and growing public pressure to implement stricter policies and improve monitoring to address this public health crisis.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Main sources of air pollution | Forest fires, transportation, energy production |
| Air quality in Jakarta | Extremely poor |
| Air quality in 2017 | 29.7 µg/m³ or "Moderate" |
| Air quality in 2018 | 45.3 µg/m³ or "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" |
| Number of forest fires in October 2015 | Nearly 5,000 |
| CO2 emissions from forest fires in October 2015 | 80 million metric tonnes |
| Number of children at risk from air pollution due to forest fires | 10 million |
| Number of upper respiratory infections caused by 2015 haze | 75,000+ |
| Percentage of Jakarta population with diseases related to air pollution in 2010 | 57.8% |
| Number of people with bronchial asthma in 2010 | 1,210,581 |
| Number of people with bronchopneumonia in 2010 | 173,487 |
| Number of people with acute respiratory infections in 2010 | 2,449,986 |
| Number of people with pneumonia in 2010 | 336,273 |
| Number of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in 2010 | 153,724 |
| Number of people with coronary artery diseases in 2010 | 1,246,130 |
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What You'll Learn
Forest fires
Indonesia's air pollution is largely due to forest fires, with energy production and transportation also playing a role. In October 2015, there were nearly 5,000 fires burning at the same time across forests and peatlands, releasing around 80 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in a single day. This was five times more than the daily emissions of the entire US economy.
Forest and peatland fires are common during Indonesia's dry season, but a combination of factors can make the situation worse. For example, in 2019, UNICEF warned that more than 10 million children were at risk from air pollution due to wild forest fires. Research has shown that babies born to mothers exposed to high levels of pollution during pregnancy are more likely to experience reduced growth in the womb, low birth weight, and be born prematurely. Poor air quality also causes millions of children to miss school, resulting in lifelong physical and cognitive damage.
The Center for International Forestry Research found that in 2013, one week of blazes in an Indonesian forest covering just 1.6% of the country's land area released emissions equivalent to 5-10% of Indonesia's annual greenhouse gas emissions. The haze from forest fires is an annual socio-ecological crisis in Indonesia, releasing monumental amounts of greenhouse gas emissions.
Indonesia is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including increased risks of drought, flooding, landslides, and disease. As a disaster-prone archipelago nation, the country is also at risk of losing entire islands to rising sea levels.
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Energy production
Indonesia's air pollution is mainly due to forest fires, with the energy production and transportation sectors contributing to the remaining pollution.
Emissions from coal-fired power plants are rapidly increasing over the west side of Java. There are currently seven power plants within 100 kilometres of Jakarta, with another five planned to be built to meet the increasing demand for electricity. This will have the same effect on air quality as adding another 10 million cars to the road network. The extremely poor air quality in Jakarta is due to the aforementioned power stations, as well as transport emissions, household emissions, the construction industry, and road dust. Fumes and particles from power plants can travel hundreds of kilometres, causing air quality in cities like Jakarta to deteriorate further.
In 2015, Indonesia experienced one of its most destructive fire seasons, with nearly 5,000 fires burning simultaneously across forests and peatlands. In just one day, approximately 80 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide were produced, five times more than the entire US economy's average daily emissions. The haze from forest fires is an annually occurring socio-ecological crisis in Indonesia that releases greenhouse gas emissions on a monumental scale. In 2013, one week of blazes in an Indonesian forest with just 1.6% of the country's total land area released emissions equivalent to 5–10% of Indonesia's annual greenhouse gas emissions.
The national 35,000-megawatt development project is expected to increase the number of premature deaths from 6,500 to 28,300 people per year due to impending air pollution from coal-fired power plants. A 2010 study found that 57.8% of Jakarta's population suffered from various diseases related to air pollution, including bronchial asthma, bronchopneumonia, and coronary artery disease. High levels of air pollution can cause eye irritation, a runny nose, a sore throat, a cough, and acute respiratory infection. Pollution reduces the local immune system, making people more susceptible to acute respiratory infection and increasing the likelihood of contracting COVID-19.
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Transportation emissions
Vehicle emissions, in particular, play a key role in degrading air quality in Indonesian cities, especially in Jakarta, which regularly ranks as one of the most polluted cities globally. A 2010 case study of Jakarta highlighted the prevalence of various diseases related to air pollution, including bronchial asthma, bronchopneumonia, and coronary artery diseases. The study found that over 1 million people in Jakarta suffered from bronchial asthma, and more than 2.4 million experienced acute respiratory infections.
The impact of transportation emissions on health can be immediate and severe. High levels of air pollution can cause eye irritation, a runny nose, a sore throat, coughing, and acute respiratory infections. For individuals with pre-existing medical conditions, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, exposure to air pollution can trigger asthma attacks and exacerbate their health issues.
The pandemic has further compounded the challenges posed by air pollution in Indonesia. According to Budi Haryanto, a professor of public health from the University of Indonesia, long-term exposure to polluted air can compromise the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to COVID-19 and potentially worsening the effects of a coronavirus infection.
To address the issue of transportation emissions, Indonesia has implemented measures such as tightening emission standards for vehicles. However, the effectiveness of these regulations is uncertain due to a lack of transparency and monitoring.
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Climate change
Indonesia is highly vulnerable to the worst effects of climate change, including increased risks of drought, flooding, landslides, fires, and disease, as well as the possibility of losing entire islands to rising sea levels. The country is already experiencing severe impacts from climate change, with rising sea levels, warming oceans, higher global temperatures, and tropical storm surges.
The social, economic, and ecological implications of climate change in Indonesia are potentially massive and unprecedented. Climate change has led to a rise in sea levels, which threatens the country's low-lying coastal areas and small islands. As an archipelago nation, Indonesia is prone to natural disasters, and climate change is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of these events, including floods, droughts, and landslides. In addition, higher emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) have caused rapidly worsening air pollution, which has severe impacts on both the environment and people's health.
Forest fires are a significant contributor to Indonesia's air pollution and are made worse by the effects of climate change. During October 2015, there were nearly 5,000 fires burning simultaneously across forests and peatlands, emitting approximately 80 million metric tons of CO2 in a single day—five times the average daily emissions of the entire US economy. The haze from these fires is an annual occurrence, releasing greenhouse gas emissions on a monumental scale. Climate change-induced droughts and higher temperatures create conditions that increase the risk and severity of these fires.
In addition to forest fires, the transportation and energy production sectors contribute significantly to air pollution in Indonesia. Emissions from coal-fired power plants are a major concern, with several power plants located near Jakarta, and more planned to be built to meet the increasing demand for electricity. These power plants, along with transport emissions, household emissions, the construction industry, and road dust, contribute to the extremely poor air quality in Jakarta, which regularly ranks as one of the most polluted cities in the world.
The human cost of air pollution in Indonesia is significant, with respiratory infections, asthma, bronchopneumonia, and coronary artery diseases being common health issues. The impact of poor air quality on children is particularly concerning, with UNICEF warning that air pollution affects babies even before they are born, increasing the risk of low birth weight and premature birth. Climate change exacerbates these issues, as higher temperatures and increased pollution levels impact vulnerable populations, especially children and those with pre-existing health conditions.
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Poor government policy
Indonesia's air pollution is a severe and growing challenge, with the country's air having been heavily polluted for years. The main sources of air pollution in Indonesia are forest fires, the transportation sector, and energy production. While forest fires are a natural and annual occurrence, the government's poor policies have failed to address the worsening air quality effectively.
Indonesia's government has faced criticism for its inadequate response to the country's air pollution crisis. In 2021, a group of Jakarta residents successfully sued the government over the poor air quality in the city, highlighting the government's lack of effective policies to combat this issue. The current air pollution regulation dates back to 1999 and fails to address the impacts of climate change and worsening air quality. The government has also been accused of insufficient monitoring and a lack of transparency in sharing data with the public.
The government's poor policy response to air pollution has had significant health consequences for Indonesians. The 2015 haze caused over 75,000 cases of upper respiratory infections, and a 2010 study found that 57.8% of Jakarta's population suffered from diseases related to air pollution, including bronchial asthma, bronchopneumonia, and coronary artery disease. The impact of air pollution is so severe that it reduces the life expectancy of Indonesian residents by 2.3 years.
Indonesia's government has also faced criticism for its lack of action on reducing emissions. Despite claims of tightening emission standards for power plants and factories, the government could not provide evidence of compliance during a trial. The country's increasing demand for electricity has led to the construction of more coal-fired power plants, which emit harmful pollutants and contribute to the poor air quality.
The social, economic, and ecological implications of the government's poor policies on air pollution are far-reaching. The combination of rising emissions and the effects of climate change, such as rising sea levels and increased risks of drought and fires, exacerbates the air pollution crisis. As a result, Indonesia's archipelago nation is particularly vulnerable to the worst effects of global warming, including the potential loss of entire islands.
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Frequently asked questions
The main cause of air pollution in Indonesia is forest fires, which release large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other toxic pollutants into the atmosphere. In addition, emissions from the transportation and energy production sectors, such as coal-fired power plants, contribute significantly to the problem.
Air pollution in Indonesia has severe human costs, causing various diseases and health issues, including eye irritation, runny nose, sore throat, acute respiratory infections, bronchial asthma, bronchopneumonia, and coronary artery diseases. It can also cause preterm birth and low birth weight in babies born to mothers exposed to high levels of pollution during pregnancy.
Efforts to address air pollution in Indonesia include legal action by citizens demanding stricter government policies and improved monitoring of air quality. Researchers and activists are also working to raise awareness and develop long-term plans to mitigate the impact of air pollution on the country's residents, especially children.
